The second
meeting of SAARC Council of Experts of Energy Regulators (Electricity) began in
Islamabad today. Mr. Tariq Saddozoi, Chairman NEPRA being the Chief Guest
delivered the Inaugural Address at the occassion.
In
his opening remarks, Chairman NEPR Aemphasized the need and importance of
increasing cross-border trade of electricity as it can play a major role in
helping overcome challenges to sustain rapid economic growth and eliminate load
shedding which in turn will bring down energy prices, mitigate power shocks,
relieve shortages, facilitate decarbonization and provide incentives for market
extension and integration. He further added that “bilateral trade of
electricity would lead to development of regional pools where real-time
electricity trade would be possible.” He further highlighted, the important
role of multilateral agencies particularly Asian Development Bank, World Bank
and JICA in the form of carrying out feasibility studies, providing financial
support, review of the relevant laws of the member countries.
He
reiterated Pakistan’s full commitment to the SAARC process and stressed the
need to promote progress and prosperity for the people of South Asian Region
through the platform of SAARC by harmonizing the laws/rules/regulations
governing such arrangement.
The overall objective of the Council is to facilitate in initiating
power trade and enabling regulatory environment for realizing SAARC energy
ring. The Council of Experts will review the suitability of existing
electricity regulations in member countries, oversee studies, undertake and
share working papers for legal perspective with the help of ADB and would also
explore options for capacity building of the experts of member countries. The
main objective of the Second meeting is to build a consensus among member
states on the roadmap for the implementation of SAARC Framework Agreement on
Energy Cooperation (Electricity) by taking into account the different
dimensions including infrastructure, power market and regulatory regime for
regional power trading under the ambit of SAARC framework Agreement.
The First meeting of the SAARC Council of Experts of Energy Regulators
(Electricity) was held in Thimpu, Bhuttan in December 2016 and it primarily
focused on the adoption of Work Plan and ToRs of the Council
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